Key Match up against Penn St this weekend
In the past two season Saquon Barkley has rushed for a combined 127 yards and 0 TDs and caught 7 passes for 96 yards and 0 TDs against Michigan. Barkley is leading Penn St this year in receptions (29) and receiving yards (395).
I think the key match against their offense this year will be McCray vs Barkley in coverage. PSU likes to go to Barkley during passing downs and I think McCray will struggle to cover him, just like he has struggled to cover other explosive running backs in past. I hope Brown makes an adjustment and has Bush cover Barkley instead because I believe he is fast enough to cover Barkley man to man in the open field. What do you guys think?
October 16th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
And M needs to remember that this is just one game which it needs to take singularly and separate in time from the other games this season. Also, although PSU has a number of good footballists on its team, they too don their football pants by inserting one leg then the other serially.
October 16th, 2017 at 8:57 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
The obvious answer is the Linebacker's vs. Barkley, but I would actually argue for the Running back's ability to block vs. Penn State pass rush. Clearly the OL has some issues, but I would love to be able to see Higdon/Isaac/Evans be able to step in and make a big block to earn a few more seconds to throw on a consistent basis. Or, if that isn't an option, let them start being a safety valve to dump off to.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
will be freaking out after 1 second when the first option isnt open so the running back blocking dont even matter, even when okorn has time he still dials in to the first option and throws into coverage, he just isnt a pocket passer hes scared to get sacked, need do more play action roll outs with him, and hope higdon can go for 200 yards again ha
October 16th, 2017 at 11:59 AM ^
...just run a lot of 4 or 5 wide empty sets where Gentry is used to motion LB out of the middle, all receivers run deep verts, and O'Korn counts to three and then takes off running up the middle.
October 16th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
...after Penn State adjusts by not falling for the 5 deep vert routes and keeps a LB home, run the same play but O'Korn passes to an uncovered Gentry for a 25 yard gain...
October 16th, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
Going to have SB assignment, the entire game, period. Scout team going to have a big week in preparing this defense, maybe we can bring in Denard this week to help the scout team emulate SB. PS: Early weather reports suggest perfect night, 64 degrees at kickoff.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:01 AM ^
early in the 1st half, breaking Barkley's shoulder in the process.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:02 AM ^
Which is looking highly doubtful at this point
October 16th, 2017 at 9:06 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 9:59 AM ^
I can see Penn State wearing us down and eventually rolling up 20+ points on us if the offense doesn't find a way to keep the defense off the field for huge chunks of time.
We definitely are talented enough to win this game, but it seems to come with a bunch of "yeah,buts" and "ifs". So much that hasn't gone right so far this season seems to need to go right this Saturday....hard to see how things turn out well for us.
Man, I can't find the optimism this week.
October 16th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^
I'd say we're due for some turnover luck but we all know that won't happen. I'd be shocked if PSU had more than 21 points though, our D is salty and PSU isn't the offensive juggernaut the media makes them out to be. They are Saquon Barkley and not much else. They haven't see anything like what we have.
Field position will be a major factor if we want to win. Need shorter fields, give them longer ones and a D/ST score would be very helpful. Or ya know, a competent QB that can hit the open guys. Either works for me.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:04 AM ^
I'd rather Bush cover Barkley in that scenario and not McCray. For as good as McCray is, he will not have the speed to get to Barkley. He's not sideline to sideline like Bush is.
I'd rather McCray be the guy that meets Barkley when he tries going up the gut. A thumper who could stop Barkley dead in his tracks.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:08 AM ^
Yeah I think we will use McCray around the line and to blitz more this week. Bush and Hudson will be covering Barkley and Gesicki.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
I mean Brown runs on chaos, so he will throw unexpected things at PSU. If we have been shooting Bush into the backfield out of the 3-3-5 all year, seeing a 40 front with McCray blitzing and Bush and Hudson hanging back wouldn't surprise me.
I do think we roll with 4 DL most of this game and dare McSorley to beat us vertically.
October 16th, 2017 at 12:22 PM ^
I won't be surprised to see anything DB throws out there. But the 3-3-5 was built for this type of offense, and unless they want Mone to clog the LOS I think they'd be better suited with the extra LB/DB than a 4th DL. We shall see though.
Not at all worried about our defense against anyone.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
UM vs. themselves (penalties/turnovers)
They'll have to play a mistake free game just to have a chance. Any points given up off of turnovers and they lose. If they let PSU continue drives becasue of penalities, they lose. If they kill their own drives because of penalites, they will lose.
They will have no margin for error Saturday night, especially since completing the forward pass seems to be a mountainous challenge.
They'll need to dominate the T.O.P. possession in this game.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:10 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
I prefer he switch McCray and Furbush this week. Furbush has a bit better wheels. I want Bush scouting McSorley and the tunnel screens I expect to see until we stop them.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^
Any word on the kick off time for the Nov. 4 game against Minnesota?
October 16th, 2017 at 9:19 AM ^
Just look at MGoBlue.com. If it isn't there, then it's unknown at this point.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:26 AM ^
And I'm a little annoyed. That's parents weekend on campus, so we have a bunch of BS to do that day and it's impossible to schedule around the game when I don't know when it is.
October 16th, 2017 at 10:14 AM ^
Looking at the rest of the schedule for the conference that week....
OSU vs. Iowa
Wisconsin vs. Indiana
Illinois vs. Purdue
Maryland vs. Rutgers
Northwestern vs. Nebraska
MSU vs. Penn State
It's got to be a noon kickoff. There are easily 3-4 match-ups better than ours that warrant a 3:30 or prime-time start.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:23 AM ^
Penn St rankes 46th in total offense in FBS. 31st in passing yards/75th in rushing yards
Their defense ranks 22nd in total defense. 10th against the pass, 22nd against the rush.
I really like our defense against their offense, but complete derp face with our offense against their defense.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
That's why this game will be frustrating. I don't think Penn St. is a death machine. If we had even an average offense, I'd easily predict an outright win for UM.
I'm expecting we'll see a PSU that looks beatable but we'll lose in a frustrating way.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:33 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 9:37 AM ^
The crazy thing here is that McCray is a damn fine player! He'd be starting for almost every team in the country, and playing well. And he's been playing great this year! And here we are talking about a very good 5th yr senior as the weak link in the defense. Put McCray on anyone of RR's or Hoke's defenses and we'd be singing his praises! LMAO!!!
October 16th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 9:34 AM ^
Don Brown has spent his entire life designing his defense to stop this particular type of offense. They'll be fine.
The corners can cover PSU's mediocre wide outs, leaving 8 up front to look after the run game/Barkley. I'm not worried about this. PSU's entire offense flows through Barkley - something like 70% of all snaps have him involved. If someone doesn't think DB will have a plan, you haven't been watching his defense operate the last couple of years.
The offense worries the snot out of me, though...
October 16th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
Sure, it's cynical, but without a QB it doesn't much matter who matches up with Barkley.... And, yes, obviously we all doubt that McCray could do it, and don't doubt that Bush can.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
Honestly, It's very obvious that we are not an explosive team on the offense. Duh. But I think we have enough playmakers to at least ground and pound PSU's defense and play a more evenly matched game. If we don't turn the ball over, as that is our major problem when we have possesion, and that kills our drives, we could win. Our defense will keep us in this game. No doubt. But we can not turn the ball over. To me, this is going to be a fun game, and I want to see what this young team can do in such a huge matchup.
I don't expect a win, but I also don't expect a blow out like most do.
Go Blue!
October 16th, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
revolves around two guys, Barkley and McSorley. They run option stuff to set up their passing game and go deep. Against MSU, Bush played well off the LOS and only rushed when his rb responsibility was occupied as a blocker. Whether he's freed up in this game to cover Barkley or they design their attack to keep him off the LOS, will determine how we use the viper in this game. Michigan can switch up its defensive assignments based on how it wants to play the PSU offense.
And frankly, I would rather neutralize Barkley, then concern myself with RPO stuff with McSorley as the primary ballcarrier and running zone read. They will want to option Rahan or Winovich. Take your pick, it's not a great choice but run support by the safeties and corners will be huge.
The other big matchup for the defense is Gisecke at tight end. They like to run play pass with him and use him as a split or even a slot receiver. And they have a developing receiver in the dude who caught the game-winner against Iowa.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
James Franklin would respondly poorly to internet pictures of a guy who looks like him in a compromising position with an apex predator. Advantage: Harbaugh.
October 16th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
If we're playing man, is it as simple as having McCray be all-time on McSorley and just have Bush or Metellus go with Barkley all game long? If you shut down Barkley like we have in year's past, PSU is going to struggle mightily
I still think we are going to lose something like 17-7
October 16th, 2017 at 10:00 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
we gon' die.
But after thinking about it a little more, the defense is obviously there. It appears that we have finally decided to narrow our offense to an effective feature running back. I think if we can gameplan a series of quick throws and screens, we may get a minimal passing attack that could open up the run a bit.
Looking at it now, I really do think Michigan has a shot. It all comes down to:
- Minimizing stupid penalties,
- Ball control on offense with quick throws and an occasional trick play thrown in.
- Receivers catching those passes.
- Let the D be the D.
- A complete 1st half, fergodsakes.
Proper execution of the above is not at all impossiible. I say we've got a shot.
And all Mr. Chow asks is that you give him a fighting chance......
October 16th, 2017 at 10:24 AM ^
Michigan definitely has a shot, for the reasons you name, yet also simply becuause
1. PSU aint Alabama
2. It's college football, everyone has a shot, as long as the other team aint Alabama
October 16th, 2017 at 10:22 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 10:22 AM ^
I don't know about anyone else, but I am pretty confident that our defense can slow down Penn State and put a cap on their scoring anyway. My fear is that we'll have a quasi-repeat of the MSU game and the offense will be unable to keep up their end of this deal and it will result in losing to a team that we probably could beat easily enough if we ran on all cylinders. I would love to be surprised in a good way, of course, but I cannot shake that fear right now.
I do agree with a lot of people here though - Barkley vs. our LBs is a huge key to this.
October 16th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
..your fear is correct
October 16th, 2017 at 10:23 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 10:44 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 10:52 AM ^
October 16th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
I'm thinking Michigan has the Nitts right where they want them. The defense is good enough to prevent McSorely from pulling miracle passes out of his rear and contain Brakley. Michigan is not going to need 300 yards passing. Just enough to keep them honest and help with the run.
Go Blue!
October 16th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
At the very least one TD, probably two. If we can't, it won't matter. I'm still gonna believe the staff can set up JOK to be successful enough. Lots of short safe passes and the O Line is gonna have to step up and make some room for Higdon and company.
GO BLUE!!
October 16th, 2017 at 11:10 AM ^